www.thalesgroup.com

Thales Cryogenics

Recent and future developments in cryogenic cooling technologies with high MTTF

Roel Arts, Tonny Benschop

EDA workshop on Superconducting Front-End microwave electronics, Brussels, May 30th 2013

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2 /2 / Content

Introduction Thales Cryogenics

� Product range and capabilities

� Present day use of Thales coolers

System integration aspects

� Impact of cooler type

� Expected requirements HTc Supra markets

� Reliability aspects

Future foreseen developments

Conclusions

Thales Cryogenics HvdW 05-2011

3 /3 / Thales Cryogenics organization

One global vision for your cryocooling solutions

� Rotary coolers� Joule Thomson coolers� High Pressure Vessels

� Linear coolers� Pulse tube coolers� System integration

Thales Cryogénie SAS4, rue Marcel Doret

BP 70022

31701 Blagnac Cedex

France

Tel : 33 (0) 5 62 74 58 00

Fax : 33 (0) 5 62 74 58 58

Thales Cryogenics BVHooge Zijde 14

PO Box 6034

5600 HA Eindhoven

The Netherlands

Tel : (31 40) 250 36 03

Fax : (31 40) 250 37 77

4 /4 / Technology Leaders

TCsas BLAGNAC (Fr) leading CC wrt:

� Rotary Stirling coolers

� Joule-Thomson coolers

� High pressure vessels & filling equipment

TCbv EINDHOVEN (NL) leading CC wrt:

� Linear Stirling Coolers

� Pulse tube Coolers

� Space cooler

� Thermodynamic simulations tools

� Complex drive electronics

Joint future efforts:

� Technology building blocks

� Acoustic and vibrations

� MTTF calculations & predictions

5 /5 /

Rotary mono bloc coolers (0.1 .. 0.75 W) @ 77K

• Very high efficiency, compact solutions

• > 25.000 delivered

• Typical use: Strategic, compact IR camera’s

Close Contact (UP Series) (0.5 W .. 2.0 W) @ 77K

• High Efficiency

• > 11.000 delivered

• Typical use: Strategic, vehicle mounted systems

Flexure Bearing (LSF Series) (0.5 W .. 8.0 W) @ 77K

• Compressor almost wear-free

• > 1.200.000 test hours

• > 24.000.000 fielded hours

• Typical use: Strategic, Non-Strategic, Space

Pulse Tube Cold Head (0.5 W .. 15 W) @ 77K

• Baseline MTTF > 10 years continuous

• Low vibration

• Typical use: Non-Strategic, Space

Present day available cooler range

Stir

ling

Pul

se T

ube

6 /6 / Thales Cryogenics, everything under one roof

� 700 m2 clean room (linears)

� Automatic test bench

� Electron beam welding

� Laser welding

� High vacuum oven

� Endurance test room

� Screen filling machine

� Automatic cleaning bench

� Noise measurement room

� Vibration bench

� High pressure room

� Conditioning & filling bench

7 /7 / Present day use of Thales Coolers

Thales Cryogenics HvdW 05-2011

• Increase detection range & accuracy of IR camera,

• radiometer, • missile seeker

• Gas spectrometer, • Superconductive filters & LNA, • space coolers, • zero blow off systems

• Detection of illicit product, • Nuclear measurements, • spectrometer

Gamma ray Detection

IR Detection

Space applications

Other civil applications

• European programs • US programs

8 /8 / System aspects

Thales Cryogenics has extensive experience in provi ding full integrated solutions, including:

• Housing with heat sinking (convective or liquid loo ps)• Highly efficient Cooler Drive Electronics• Option for Active Vibration Reduction• Cooler Diagnostics in Electronics• Cooler Control (by PC)

For critical vibration requirements, dedicated electronics with Active Vibration Reduction (AVR) available:

• Individual control of each compressor coil• Feedback mechanism minimizing residual

vibration signal• Adaptive algorithm implemented in DSP

hardware for compact solution

9 /9 / Stirling vs Pulse Tube (LSF-LPT)

Stirling vs Pulse Tube (LSF-LPT)

Technical comparison Stirling / Pulse tube

Parameter Rotary cooler (RM) Stirling (LSF) Pulse tube ( LPT)

Efficiency ++ + -

Lifetime 0 + ++

Cooler inducedvibration

-0 (with balancer)

+ (active control)

+++ (with AVR control)

MTTF 0 + ++

System integration ++ (compact) + ++

10 /10 / Example of Pulse Tube peformance operating window

LPT 9710

LPT 9510

LPT 9310

11 /11 / Expected cooler requirements HTc applications

Temperature range:

• 50K < Tc < 77K

Cooling power:

• Large range of cooling power depending on device an d applicationOperating temperature device / Number of contact le ads / size of device

High reliability required 24/7 use:

• Maintenance-free continuous operation for 10 years• Compact solutions required

Integrated solutions required (device, dewar, coole r, drive electronics):

• Line-replaceable unit, “plug & play”• Modular setup containing HTC device in vacuum dewar , cooler, heat sink• Control electronics to be integrated in the module

Predictable uptime:

• Intrinsic reliability• Diagnostic function in control electronics

12 /12 / Wear mechanisms and failed coolers

� Cooler failure behavior and mechanisms have been investigated and solved in detail by cooler manufacturers worldwide

� Different failure mechanisms have be identified and improved:

� Mechanical or electrical failure:Failure of bearings, springs, coatings etc. Almost always immediate loss of function

� Very slow degradation in heat lift:Due to wear of contact seals or loss of dewarintegrity >> gradual Increase in cool down time and eventually loss of set point

� Linear coolers: Rapid wear of coating in case gaps are too large (“avalanche effect”)

� In 24/7 application health monitoring system advised to avoid unnecessary maintenance or adequate response for preventive maintenance

Thales Cryogenics

13 /13 / Cooler Diagnostic Software implemented in CDE devices

Implementation in existing hardware

Calculated operational parameters

� Elapsed time (C)

� Ratio between actual output voltage and maximum output voltage (C)

� Ratio between actual sensor voltage and sensor voltage set point (C)

Continious measured performance

� AC Power supply voltage and (M)

� Ambient temperature (M)

Settings

� Low pass filter coefficients (S)

� Data storage intervals (S)

� Alarm trigger levels for: (S)� Remaining lifetime� Maximum output voltage ratio� Maximum sensor voltage ratio

13 Thales Cryogenics

14 /14 /

14Thales Cryogenics

Present day available options

Available cooler solution forHTc applications

Thermodynamic efficiencySize & reliabilityRM

LS

LSFLPT

Development route:- Improve reliability- Reduce size (compactness)- Increase efficiency (lower temperatures, lower consumption)

15 /15 /

15Thales Cryogenics

Available options

Available cooler solution forHTc applications

Cooling power@ 77KReliability (MTTF)

Development route:- Improve reliability- Increase cooling power

16 /16 / Conclusion

Available cryogenic coolers:

� High MTTF an compact solutions are readily availabl e

� Broad cooling power and low temperature range

� Correct choice of cooling technology (RM?, LSF?, LP T?) and drive electronics (AVR?, diagnostics?) required

System aspects:

� System integration should be discussed with cooler manufacturerHeat sinking // vibrations sensitivity // Temperature control // Diagnostics

� Mounting of device of cold plate and dewar concept v ery important for overall system performance

Today’s HTc devices and available cryogenic coolers can

be matched to support future markets using HTc devices.

Joint efforts are required especially at integration aspects

and required electrical connections.

Thales Cryogenics HvdW 05-2011

17 /17 / Questions and answers

Questions?